If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard warning flashers.

Caution: Changing a tire can be dangerous. The vehicle can slip off the jack and roll over or fall on you or other people. You and they could be badly injured or even killed. Find a level place to change your tire. To help prevent the vehicle from moving:

1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put the shift lever in P (Park).
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart while the vehicle is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in the vehicle.

The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and change a tire.

The equipment you'll need is located in the trunk.

1. Pull the carpeting from the floor of the trunk.
2. Lift and remove the cover.
3. Remove the compact spare tire. See Compact Spare Tire for more information about the compact spare.
4. Unscrew the wing nuts to remove the container that holds the wrench and jack.
5. Remove the wheel wrench, jack and the spare tire from the trunk.

The tools you'll be using include the jack (A) and the wheel wrench (B).

If your vehicle has an aluminum wheel with a center cover that hides the wheel nuts, remove the center cover by using the flat end of the wheel wrench to pry it off.

If your vehicle has a wheel cover, remove it by using the flat end of the wheel wrench. Pry along the edge of the wheel cover until it comes off.

When reinstalling the wheel cover, carefully line up the tire valve stem and the notch in the wheel cover.

1. Use the wheel wrench to loosen the wheel nuts, but don't remove them yet.
2. The jack has a bolt at the end. Attach the wheel wrench to the bolt to create a jack handle.



3. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to lower the jack head until it fits under the vehicle.



4. Put the jack into a notch in the frame which is located near each wheel well. The front notch is eight inches (20 cm) back from the front wheel well. The rear notch is three inches (8 cm) forward from the rear wheel well. The notches are accessible through openings in the plastic trim at the bottom of the vehicle.

Position the jack and raise the jack head until it fits firmly on the ridge in the vehicle's frame nearest the flat tire. Do not raise the vehicle yet. Put the compact spare tire near you.

Caution: Getting under a vehicle when it is jacked up is dangerous. If the vehicle slips off the jack you could be badly injured or killed. Never get under a vehicle when it is supported only by a jack.

Caution: Raising your vehicle with the jack improperly positioned can damage the vehicle and even make the vehicle fall. To help avoid personal injury and vehicle damage, be sure to fit the jack lift head into the proper location before raising the vehicle.




5. Raise the vehicle by turning the wheel wrench clockwise in the jack. Raise the vehicle far enough so there's enough room for the spare tire to fit under the wheel well.
6. Remove all the wheel nuts and take off the flat tire.




Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel bolts, mounting surfaces and spare wheel.

Caution: Rust or dirt on a wheel or other parts to which it is fastened, can make the wheel nuts become loose and eventually the wheel could come off and cause a crash. Always remove all rust and dirt from wheels and other parts.

Caution: Never use oil or grease on bolts or nuts because the nuts might come loose. The vehicle's wheel could fall off, causing a crash.

7. Place the compact spare tire on the wheel-mounting surface.




Reinstall the wheel nuts with the rounded end of the nuts toward the wheel. Make sure each wheel stud is centered in each wheel hole while tightening the nuts. Tighten each nut by hand until the wheel is held against the hub.

8. Lower the vehicle by turning the wheel wrench counterclockwise on the jack. Lower the jack completely.




Tighten the wheel nuts firmly in a crisscross sequence.

Caution: Incorrect or improperly tightened wheel nuts can cause the wheel to come loose and even come off. This could lead to a crash. If you have to replace them, be sure to get new original equipment wheel nuts. Stop somewhere as soon as you can and have the nuts tightened with a torque wrench to the proper torque specification. See Capacities and Specifications for wheel nut torque specification.

Notice: Improperly tightened wheel nuts can lead to brake pulsation and rotor damage. To avoid expensive brake repairs, evenly tighten the wheel nuts in the proper sequence and to the proper torque specification. See Capacities and Specifications for the wheel nut torque specification.

Notice: Wheel covers will not fit on your vehicle's compact spare. If you try to put a wheel cover on the compact spare, the cover or the spare could be damaged.

Caution: Storing a jack, a tire, or other equipment in the passenger compartment of the vehicle could cause injury. In a sudden stop or collision, loose equipment could strike someone. Store all these in the proper place.

After you've put the compact spare tire on your vehicle, you'll need to store the flat tire in your trunk. Use the following procedure to secure the flat tire in the trunk.

Store the flat tire as far forward in the trunk as possible. Store the jack and wheel wrench in their compartment in the trunk.

Caution: Storing a jack, a tire, or other equipment in the passenger compartment of the vehicle could cause injury. In a sudden stop or collision, loose equipment could strike someone. Store all these in the proper place.

Store the compact spare tire and tools as shown in the diagram.

1. Wrench

2. Jack

3. Jack Container

4. Retainer

5. Spare Tire Cover

6. Retainer

The compact spare tire is for temporary use only. Replace the compact spare tire with a full-size tire as soon as you can. See "Compact Spare Tire" following for more information.